Trailer hitch



B. KQBACK TRAILER HITCH Oct. 25, 1949.

' Filed March 6, 1946 A Trop/VE Y Patented Oct. 25, i949 TRAILER Hrron Benjamin Kobackiortland, Oreg., assignor to Richard J. Drggs, Portland, Oreg.

Application March 6,1946, serial No. 652,397

This invention relates to a novel and improved trailer hitch, and has as its general object theV provision of a device which'may be attachedto standard makes of automotive vehicles and the like for towing trailers therebehind. Y Y

Other objects of the invention are `to provide a device of the type described which may easily be attached to an automotive vehicle without the use of special tools and without weakening or in any way impairing the general usefulness or appearance of .the vehicle to which it. is attached.

Another object is to provide a trailer hitch which is economical to manufacture, which is ad-V justable to fit different vehicles, and which is rugged and reliable in service.

A particular obj ect is to provide a trailer hitch so constructed and arranged that there'will be no portion thereof extending or protruding behind the rear bumper of the vehicle to which it is attached when the hitch is not in use, to avoid the usual objectionable extension of conventional trailer hitches behind-the rear bumper. Y l' In the present construction the trailer hitch comprises a drawbar made in two parts for at tachment to a passenger automobile or truck. One of the drawbar members is adaptedto `be bolted to a transverse or other framemember of the vehicle, and the other drawbar member isl provided with a clamp which may be secured to the rear bumper. The two drawbar members are connected together by means having a length adjustment to fit the space between the bumper and frame member on different vehicles so that the draftis transmitted directly to the vehicle frame without imposing a pulling or tractive stress upon the bumper. Conventional trailer hitches ordinarily project permanently behind the bumper whenl the trailer is removed so as to constitute a hazard to people walking behind the vehicle and especially in walking between parked cars. Such a projection increases the length of the vehicle so as to cause annoyance in parking and sometimes to prevent the closing of garage doors on a garage which is just long enough to accommodate the bumper to bumper length. Such a projection also constitutes a hazard to the car behind, both in parallel parking on the street and in moving traffic, wherein the projection often causes damage to the car behind in a slight rear end bump which would be only a harmless incident if the projection were not present. In the present construction the objectionable projection behind the bumper is removed when thetrailer is disconnected to restore theburnper'tovr 11 Claims. A (Cl. 280-33.44)

bumps, and to restore the vehicle to its normall bumper to bumper length. To this end the draw-v bar-is equipped with an extension member which may leither be removed with withdrawing a simple i pin connector or which may be telescoped into a guide box on the drawbar and retained `therein by reinserting the pin in a different hole. This is accomplished without tools and without crawl.-

ing under the vehicle to remove orloosen any parts attached thereto. The present hitchrnay thereby remain permanently attached to'the vehicle without hazard or annoyance, 'and it is at all timesminstantly available for use in pulling trailers.

The invention resides in the construction and f arrangement of parts illustrated by way of eX` ample in the preferred embodiments shown'o" theaccompanying drawings and described in the kannexed specication. Additional objects and advantages Vwill"become apparentas the4 des/crip-` tion .Proceeds with. Particular referen i0 the preferred embodiments illustrated, and vit is to bei understoodof course, that all modications of the presentembodiments within the Vscope ,of Y theappendedA claims are included in the inven-H tion.

-In the drawings:

Figure l is a View in longitudinal present trailer hitch showing its constructionpand manner of attachment toV a bumper equipped automotive vehicleof standard make;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the trailer hitch as itappears before it is attached to' a Vehicle; f

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of theA rear end of the device,`A showingv the manner in' which the drawbar extensionfmay be retracted s o as not tolextend behind the rear bumper vof the vehicle; and K I Figure 4 illustrates a modification havingian offset elevated drawbar' extension forv use with vehicles having unusually low rear bumpers.

In Figure 1 the numeral I designates atrans` verse memberusuallyfound at the rear of an automobile frame which is suiiiciently rigid and secure and otherwiseV suited for the attachment of Ya trailer hitch.A .The numeral .2 A Ydesig-M vention is indicated, generally, bythe 'reference numeral 4; and comprises ampair of adjustable vdrawbar members `5 and 'extendingfbetween -section of 3 the automobile frame member I and the bumper l, and provided with means of attachment to the trailer socket 3. In the present embodiment the forward end of the bar 5 is connected with a bracket or angle iron 8 by means of a bolt 9, and this bracket is in turn provided with a hole I to receive a bolt II attaching the device to the frame member I. It is to be understood, however, that the bracket'I 8 may take other forms" to adapt the device for attachment to dilerent types of automobile frames or bodies. The bar is provided With a series of holes I2, and the bar 6 is provided with a similar 'series of more closely spaced holes I3 to establish aj pluralityofllength adjustments in small increments whenthe=` two bars are connected together by. a bolt I4.passing through a pair of these holes which have been brought into registry.

By reason of the different spacing of the holes I2fand I3 there will always be one of the holes I3 in approximate registry -with one of the -holes I2, so Athat the length adjustment will very closely, if not exactly, fit anybumper spacing `without requiring the holes.y I2 and I3 tobe formed in precise positions for a particular make of car. Furthermore, it is desirable to make the length adjustment variable` in small increments in this manner to allow for slightly different positions of the bumper in different cars of the same make, and to allow for deformation of the bumper and its mounting' brackets which may occur from time to time when the car is in use.

Integrally united with the rear end of the bar 6 are a guide box I5 and an overhanging cross bar I6, the numerals II and I8 designating fillet welds by which the three parts may be integrally welded together from separateA pieces. An upstanding lip I9 is formed'on the rear end of the guide box I5 in spaced relationI` with the-cross bar I6 whereby 'the lower edge of thebumper I may be received therebetween. vThe rear end of the trailer hitch is rigidly attached to the bumper by means of hangervboltsy 20 yhaving hooked upper ends'which engage over the upper edge of the bumper and` having `threaded lowerends 2l loosely-received tthrough holes inthe ends of the cross bar I6 overhanging on either side of the guide box I5 and bar 6. Nuts 22 are'tightened on the threaded ends 2 I to clamp thedevice securely to thebumperwith theflower edge of 'the bumper coniinedfbetween the lip: I9 and the rear edge of the bar I6, as shownin Figure 1. This typeof clamp will work satisfactorily with all the various typesof bumpers presently inluse on automotive vehicles. It is to be understood, of course, that it is within the -scope of the inventionto modify the clampingl parts where necessary to fit still other types of bumpers.

The guide box I5 is adapted loosely to receive a drawbar extension 23 having a plurality `of holes 24, 25, and2'l. The hOle. 24 isadapted to receive the shank of a conventional ball connector 3a, and thehole 25 is designed to receive a pin 2a on a safety chain 2b. When the-hitch is in use, the hole 21 is aligned with. a hole 28 in the bar 6 anda hole 29in'the guide box I5 to receive a pin 30. The projecting end of the pin' 30 may be provided with an annular groove `to receive a retainer in the form of a wire clip 3|, or the like, or a hole may beprovidedin the extending end of thefpin 30 `to receive a Cotter key or vretaining pin therein. The retainer 3| :in whateverform it may take maybe attached tothe pin 30 by a chain-32 to prevent its loss.

When the trailer is .the relative positions shown in Figure 3, wherein 'the outer end of the extension 23 does not extend Loutwardly beyond the end of the bar 6 or beyond `the lip I9.

Figurel 4 illustrates a modified construction for use where the automobile rear bumper is unusually-low, or-iwhere for some other reason it is desired to. attach and support the trailer tongue or drawbar above the lower edge of the automobile bumper. In this case there is no change in the parts attached to the automobile, but an offset extension: 33 is substituted for the bar extension23 previously described. The extension 33 comprises the ltwo par-ts 34 and-35 connected together by a pair of 'bblts'36. By means of a plurality of registering fholesfl31 in vertical portions of these two members, height adjustment for the member34 maybe=obtainedrelative=to the member 35 and the bumper .tovwhi'ch thedevice is attached. .The lelevated end lof 'the member 34 terminates in arearwardly vextending horizontal portion having a hole24 for receiving the-shank of the.vr ballconnector 3a,-.and the-angle in this member may-befA-stiff'ened byl one or more triangular webs 38. Themember 34 also preferably containsa hole 25for theflockingpin 29. AThe lower member 35whas'fa-:hole 2'I.=-for thev pin 30 whichtakes vthe drawbari-pull `from the, trailer, and one or more 'stiiening webs39 may be1employed. yIn .this embodiment the extension 34 -is removed when it is.not in-usefor towing purposes to leave the rearisidefof the bumper free and-unobstructed. When theextension -is again put into use the rolledlip I9 serves asr a guide to facilitate an easy entranceinto the guide box I5.

Thus, the objects., of.v.the kinventionareY accomplished in a rugged andinexpensive construction which is readily attachable to standard makes of automotive vehicles wthoutthe useof lspecial tools, and. which incorporates in itself suflicient means of adjustment `to make the device .t such vehicleswithout bending ,or deforming any parts of the vehicle and. without making any material changes' inthe frameor' bumper mounting of the vehicle. In either form of the invention, the drawbar extension is readily removable to leave no obstruction behind' 'the rear bumper of 'the vehicle when 'the device is not actually in use .for towing purposes.

Having now described "my invention and in what manner the samel may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1.A trailer hitch* for a bumper equipped vehicleV comprising a'drawban'means on'one end of saiddrawbar for attachment to a framemember ofs'aid vehiclemeanssonv the other end'of said drawbarf'for attachmentl to Ithe' bumper of said vehicle, 'means' for* adjustingl the vlength of said 'drawbar' 'betweenmsaid" attaching `means,A a .trailer connection; and `meansffor-rnouriting said trailer 'connection on^said ydrawbarfin veither of two positions, f said il'trailerconnection when mounted in one of Isaid positions extending yrearwardly vof sa'idP-bumperf'forf connection-'with a trailer andI the. likefandu-when` mounted inthe y other of said positions being secured to said drawbar forwardly of said bumper with no part thereof extending behind said bumper.

2. A trailer hitch for bumper equipped vehicles comprising a drawbar, means for attaching one end of said drawbar to said vehicle, means for attaching the other end of said drawbar to the bumper of said vehicle, means for adjusting the length of said drawbar between said attaching means, a guide box on the bumper end of said drawbar, a drawbar extension slidably mounted in said guide box, and means for securing said drawbar extension in one position projecting rearwardly of said guide box for attachment to a trailer and in another position extending forwardly of said bumper.

3. A trailer hitch for bumper equipped vehicles comprising a drawbar, means for attaching one end of said drawbar to said vehicle, means for attaching the other end of said drawbar to the bumper of said vehicle, a guide box on said drawbar associated with said bumper attaching means, a drawbar extension slidably mounted in said guide box and removable therefrom, and quick release means for securing said drawbar extension in diierent adjusted positions in said guide box and for releasing said extension for removal from the guide box.

4. A trailer hitch for bumper equipped vehicles comprising a pair of longitudinal drawbar members, means for attaching one of said members to said vehicle, means for attaching the other of said members to the bumper of said vehicle, a linear series of holes in one of said members, a linear series of holes in the other member having a different spacing than said first series of holes whereby holes in said two members may be brought into registry in smaller increments of length adjustment than the spacing of the holes in either of said members, a connector insertable through registering holes in said two members for transmitting the draft from the member attached to the bumper to the member attached to the vehicle, a removable drawbar extension for a trailer coupling, and means for detachably connecting said extension to one of said members for removal therefrom.

5. A trailer hitch for bumper equipped vehicles comprising a drawbar, means for attaching one end of said drawbar to said vehicle, an upstanding lip on the other end of said drawbar, an abutment on said drawbar spaced from said lip to receive the lower edge of a bumper therebetween, clamping means arranged to engage the upper edge of a bumper to hold said lower edge between said lip and said abutment and to anchor said drawbar to said bumper, and a removable drawbar extension detachably connected with said drawbar to extend beyond the bumper for connection with a trailer and the like.

6. A trailer hitch comprising a drawbar member, means for attaching said member to a Vehicle, a removable drawbar extension having a trailer coupling member, and a quick releasable pin connector arranged to secure said drawbar extension to said drawbar member when the pin is inserted and to release said extension for removal from the drawbar when the pin is withdrawn.

7. A trailer hitch for a bumper equipped vehicle comprising a drawbar member, means for attaching said member to said bumper with said bumper positioned at the extremity of said member, a guide box on said member, a removable drawbar extension receivable in said guide box, and a quick release pin connector arranged to secure said drawbar extension in said guide box and to release said extension for removal from said guide box.

8. A trailer hitch for bumper equipped vehicles comprising a drawbar, means for attaching one end of said drawbar to said vehicle, the other end of said drawbar extending to, but not beyond, said bumper, means for attaching said other end of said drawbar to the bumper of the vehicle, a removable drawbar extension having means for mounting a trailer coupling member thereon, and quick releasable means for connecting said extension with said drawbar and for releasing said extension for removal from said drawbar.

9. In a trailer hitch for a bumper equipped vehicle, a drawbarl comprising a pair of drawbar members, means for attaching one end of one of said members to the vehicle, means for attaching one end of the other member to the vehicle bumper, an adjustable draft connection between said members for varying the length of the drawbar, a removable extension on said other member having a trailer coupling, and quick releasable means for detachably securing said extension to said member.

10. A trailer hitch for a bumper equipped vehicle comprising a pair of longitudinal drawbar members, means for attaching one of said members to the vehicle, means for attaching an extremity of the other member to the vehicle bumper so that the member does not extend outwardly beyond the bumper, means for connecting the two drawbar members together in variable length adjustment, a removable drawbar extension having holes therein and mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bumper attached member, and a pin connector insertable in said holes to secure said extension selectively in extended and retracted positions on said member.

11. A trailer hitch for a bumper equipped vehicle comprising a pair of longitudinal drawbar members, means for attaching one of said members to the vehicle, means for connecting the two members together in different length adjustments, a removable drawbar extension having holes therein, a guide box for said extension on the other one of said drawbar members, said guide box and other drawbar member having holes therein, a pin connector insertable in said holes to secure said extension selectively in extended and retracted positions in said guide box, a lip on said guide box to engage the vehicle bumper, and clamping means cooperating with said lip to attach the vehicle bumper to the extremity of said other drawbar member.

BENJAMIN KOBACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,914,963 Stephens June 20, 1933 2,072,473 Baumberger Mar. 2, 1937 2,092,593 Seys Sept. 7, 1937 2,097,006 Weis Oct. 26, 1937 2,150,999 Wight Mar. 21, 1939 2,151,920 Jandus et al. Mar. 28, 1939 2,309,850 Klawitter Feb. 2, 1943 

